CVE-2019-19737 in YetiShare
Summary
by MITRE
MFScripts YetiShare 3.5.2 through 4.5.3 does not set the SameSite flag on session cookies, allowing the cookie to be sent in cross-site requests and potentially be used in cross-site request forgery attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-19737 affects MFScripts YetiShare versions 3.5.2 through 4.5.3, representing a critical security flaw in session cookie handling that exposes applications to cross-site request forgery attacks. This issue stems from the absence of the SameSite attribute in session cookies, which creates a significant window of opportunity for malicious actors to exploit the application's authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient cookie security controls and aligns with CWE-614, which specifically addresses insecure cookies that lack proper security flags. The impact of this flaw extends beyond simple session hijacking, as it enables attackers to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users across different domains.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when the application generates session cookies without explicitly setting the SameSite flag, leaving these cookies vulnerable to cross-site request forgery attacks. Without the SameSite attribute, session cookies are sent with all requests regardless of the originating domain, including those initiated from malicious third-party websites. This behavior violates fundamental security principles established by the W3C specification for cookie security and creates a pathway for attackers to leverage legitimate user sessions in unauthorized operations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects the core authentication mechanism of the application, potentially allowing attackers to execute actions such as file uploads, downloads, or administrative operations without proper authorization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it provides attackers with a means to perform authenticated actions on behalf of legitimate users. In the context of YetiShare, which is a file sharing platform, this could enable unauthorized file manipulation, data exfiltration, or even complete account compromise. The attack surface expands significantly since the vulnerability affects cross-site requests, meaning that an attacker could craft malicious web pages that automatically submit requests to the vulnerable application when a user visits the page. This technique aligns with the ATT&CK framework's T1531 technique for credential access through cross-site request forgery, where adversaries leverage session cookies to perform unauthorized operations. The vulnerability also increases the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within the file sharing platform.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on implementing proper cookie security controls within the application's session management system. The primary remediation involves configuring session cookies to include the SameSite attribute with appropriate values such as "Strict" or "Lax" to prevent cross-site request forgery attacks. Security professionals should ensure that all session cookies generated by the application include the SameSite flag with the "Secure" attribute to prevent transmission over unencrypted connections. Organizations should also implement comprehensive cookie security policies that align with industry standards such as those recommended by OWASP and NIST, which emphasize the importance of proper cookie handling in preventing session hijacking and CSRF attacks. Additionally, regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components and ensure that all authentication mechanisms properly implement security controls. The implementation of these measures directly addresses the underlying weakness described in CVE-2019-19737 and provides protection against the specific attack vectors that exploit the missing SameSite cookie flag.